The Wife Upstairs

I selected this book for the Key Word Reading Challenge. Upstairs is one of the words allowed this month. When I selected it I knew it was going to be great because Freida McFadden is the author. She is a stellar writer.

The publisher's summary:

Victoria Barnett has it all.

A great career as a nurse practitioner. A handsome and loving husband. A beautiful home in the suburbs and a plan to fill it with children. Life is perfect—or so it seems.

Then she’s in a terrible accident… and her life is forever changed.

Sylvia Robinson is hired as a caregiver for Victoria. Sylvia moves into a spare room, feeds Victoria, and takes her on long walks. The two women become friends.

But as it turns out, this simple nursing job is more than what it seems. As Sylvia and Victoria's friendship grows, Sylvia realizes that Victoria is desperately trying to tell her something.

If only she could speak.

My first reaction to this book is WOW!  Talk about being on a wild ride. This story started off fast and the pace kept increasing. When negative things happened, the rural setting made them seem worse. There were no neighbors for a mile, no nearby stores or police protection. The city was 2 or 3 hours away.

The characters are what made the book successful. Victoria's husband Adam is the main villain but there are other characters that acted just as bad. Victoria's friend Maggie had ulterior motives, all while giving the appearance of protecting her. Her betrayal of Victoria isn't shown until the end. She was jealous of Victoria because Adam seemed like a great guy. He was rich, brought her flowers and took her to dinner at high priced restaurants. Adam also bought her a house, without telling her, but it was obvious to me that he was a possessive man and the relationship would deteriorate. On the surface Adam was an attentive husband, catering to his wife's every whim. Privately, he was a tyrant who frequently cheated on Victoria.

When Sylvia is hired she is overwhelmed at the opportunity to live in their mansion. Sylvia couldn't believe how lucky she was to sleep in a huge bed made up with luxury linens. Adam gave her Victoria's Honda Civic to use when she wanted to go out. All she saw was the riches she was given by Adam and Sylvia ignored all the signs of his misconduct. She didn't ask questions because she wanted to continue living the high life. Her downfall, though,  was her loyalty to her patient.

How Victoria sustained her injuries is unknown. Everyone believes whatever Adam tells them. I think they only believed him because he was rich and they wanted him for themselves. Why the wealthy get away with so much has always felt wrong but it happens in real life all the time. I still don't understand why.

The Wife Upstairs shows us the age old story of domestic violence committed by men. Freida McFadden writes it exquisitely and it's an engrossing read. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Lindens

I received a free copy of this book from the Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club. The story spans 150 years in the life of a house in the English countryside weaving together the tales of its inhabitants over the decades. There is a dairymaid with big dreams, a lonely evacuee, a damaged army veteran and aging hippies. We also have teenagers partying on midsummer’s night eve, grown-up kids coming home for Christmas and a bored Slovakian housewife receiving some unexpected visitors. This is an epic novel about home and family, love and loss, vengeful goats and mushroom trips.

I particularly love reading long sagas so I knew I would enjoy this book. It did not disappoint.  Each era told a new story with new characters and new plot. They were basically different books to read. It was obvious that the author did a lot of research into each era. I enjoyed reading about the details of life in each time period. What didn't I like? There wasn't much to dislike but at times the story was sad. 

The first era was my favorite. Here we have a rich boy who falls in love with a beautiful but poor girl. His family is dead set against them getting married but they go ahead and marry anyway. To everyone's chagrin, it's a successful marriage. This story was super sweet.

All in all, The Lindens is a fantastic novel. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

This Blood Runs

This Blood Runs is the sequel to J. M. Cannon's This Family Lies. It is a psychological thriller at its best and mystery fans will love it. Note that parts of the novel are gruesome but it matches the storyline. However, if you are squeamish you might want to pass on reading the book. The story involves the Mexican cartel and descriptions of human trafficking are prominent.

The publisher's summary:

Iris is being hunted.

Through the burning sugarcane fields she must flee Sweet Blood and the country.

But in the blue hills of Mexico awaits a new set of horrors. Blood trails and missing girls tell a story: what Iris was told about her past might not be true.

The game is on for her to stay alive and find the person she loves. The challenge is the truth because that's the thing about lies, Iris has learned...

They multiply.

This Blood Burns picks up with the intensity, twists and the shock that left readers of This Family Lies enthralled. Coming late summer.

 

It took me a few chapters to become familiar with the action that occurred in the first book. In a perfect world I would have read these novels consecutively. I felt awful that Iris experienced so many tramatic events while she was on the lam. She believed that law enforcement was searching for her in order to charge her with killing her husband so she put up with alot. SPOILER ALERT We find out later that this was false. Every person who helped her run was actually an enemy of her but she didn't know it. These reveals were all shocking but part of the many twists and turns in this story. Iris's run covers most of the pages but at one point she agrees to help the FBI catch the leaders of the cartel. This is where the story becomes gruesome. As Iris uncovers information about the trafficking trade, it's ugliness is shown. 

I recommend beginning with This Family Lies before reading this book. There are clues that eminate from the earlier novel and these clues are not explained. The reader really needs to have read This Family Lies in order to understand what the clues refer to.

I loved reading the novel and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Delver Season 1

Delver Season 1 is a Comixology Original comic. It collects releases 1 through 5 and there are 5 seasons of this 2019 comic. It is kid friendly; no foul language, violence or sex. 

The publisher's summary:

When the door to a living dungeon surfaces in the tiny hamlet of Oddgoat, village girl Temerity Aster has two choices: abandon the only home she's ever known to carpet baggers and sellswords, or carve out a place for herself and her family in the new and dangerous world of delving. 

The story opens with a boy being sent to the family's root cellar for ingredients needed for dinner. He finds an entrance to the Dungeon and tells the family when he returns. Soon neighbors are talking about it and the gossip spreads. People begin coming from all over the world to try and gain their fortunes in this dangerous place. The story focuses on Merit, a fifteen year old girl who decides to try her fortune as a Delver as the Dungeon irrevocably changes the life of those in the community. 

The first thing I noticed was that the main family of the series is dark skinned while the people who come out of the dungeon are crazy looking white people. This theme is carried out throughout the 141 pages of the comic. I thought it was hilarious. So what is delving? It is searching for treasure in the dungeon. In order to enter and exit the dungeon you have to find the door. To make matters difficult, the doors move and close frequently. Most of the time you are rich beyond belief when you exit the dungeon so everyone wants to enter. 

I cannot wait to read all 5 seasons! Delver is a cute comic for all ages. 5 out of 5 stars.

Everything Bundt the Truth

I received a free copy of this cozy mystery from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.  It is a Dinner Club cozy mystery that was published in 2016. I thought it was OK but it didn't do much for me.

The publisher's summary:

She cheated on dessert. A murderer killed before dinner. If she doesn't dish up the solution, she'll be banned from the club. A recent widow, Jane Marsh, is determined to recapture a rich, full life. She strives for youthful fun by riding a bicycle downtown on her lunch hour in a suit and heels, smoking cigars, eating at hipster restaurants, and re-entering the dating scene, even if her dates prove to be peculiar. Her most fervent desire, though, is to join an exclusive dinner club. She auditions but is barred when her housekeeper is found murdered, and she and her guest list become the suspect list. Her, a killer? So what if her two late husbands died under suspicious circumstances. It doesn't make her a killer. Having passed off a store-bought Bundt cake as her own creation, she may have committed a culinary crime, but never murder! This first in the dinner club murder mystery series is similar to cozies written by authors Jessica Beck, Joanne Fluke, and Leslie Meier. If you like cozy mysteries, tight friendships, and gripping who-done-its, you'll love Whalen's Everything Bundt the Truth. Buy the book now to join the dinner club craze today.

My initial attraction to the book was the inviting red book cover with the bundt cake pan. The cover is gorgeous. However, the writing style was simple and didn't entertain me. There are a few positives though. I thought that the murder occurring in the first chapter was a good idea as then the rest of the book is about the investigation. The plot premise was also good. Murdering the housekeeper was a great idea but being denied entry into a dinner club because she was killed didn't make sense to me. It was a stretch too far. 

Jane was an obvious suspect since the death occurred in her home. The police were also interested in her because both of her husbands died in similar accidents. The author focused alot of attention on Jane's interactions with family and friends. I prefer a storyline that spends most of the pages on the murder investigation. . 

Many cozy lovers will enjoy this traditional cozy but it wasn't my cup of tea. 3 out of 5 stars.

The Chaiwallah

I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The Chaiwallah will be published on April 15, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

In the heart of bustling Mumbai, three neighbors—each caught in their own struggles—find unexpected solace from a new street vendor, whose quiet wisdom and selfless acts guide them toward paths they never imagined.

Aditi, the only woman in her community with a degree, dreams of climbing the corporate ladder to secure her son's future. But after her latest rejection, self-doubt consumes her.

From a nearby opulent apartment, Sumeet has always followed his father's advice. Now, at the peak of his business career, a toxic work culture begins to make him question the life he's built.

Arjun slumps beneath the bodhi tree by Sumeet's building. Haunted by a troubled past, he drowns in alcohol and debt, desperate for a way out.

When a new tea seller arrives in their neighborhood square, his fragrant chai, warmth, and wisdom draw them in. One cup at a time, he nudges them closer to finding their true purpose.

The Chaiwalah is a heartwarming tale of a street tea seller who intervenes in the lives of three people. He is a wise, elderly man that sets up his tea cart every day at the same place on Chimbai Square. 

The story is told from the perspectives of those three people. All are having problems at work. Arjan is a professional thief who has been unable to establish himself in Mumbai. He moved here for the opportunities available. Aditi is a sales clerk at a call center who is always passed over for promotions. Sumeet is a manager in a vehicle factory but he also teaches underprivileged kids at a local school. As each of them interact with the chaiwalah daily, they receive advice that is necessary for them to deal with their job stress. 

The story captivated me. I was fully invested in where the lives of the three characters were going. Also, the plot lifted me up personally as I read all the advice the chaiwallah gave. We all need one in our lives. 5 out of 5 stars.

Can't Wait Wednesday #41

I recently discovered that Alka Joshi has a new book coming out on 2 weeks. I loved her book The Henna Artist and have high hopes for Six Days in Bombay.

When renowned painter Mira Novak arrives at Wadia hospital in Bombay after a miscarriage, she's expected to make a quick recovery, and her nurse, Sona, is excited to learn more about the vivacious artist who shares her half-Indian identity. Sona, yearning for a larger life, finds herself carried away by Mira's stories of her travels and exploits and is shocked by accounts of the many lovers the painter has left scattered throughout Europe. When Mira dies quite suddenly and mysteriously, Sona falls under suspicion, and her quiet life is upended. 
 
The key to proving Sona's innocence may lie in a cryptic note and four paintings Mira left in her care, sending the young woman on a mission to visit the painter's former friends and lovers across a tumultuous Europe teetering toward war. On the precipice of discovering her own identity, Sona learns that the painter's charming facade hid a far more complicated, troubled soul. 
 
I might have time next week to read the book. We shall see.

The Sirens

The Sirens was published two days ago. The book was written by Emilia Hart, author of one of my favorite books Weyward. I have been anxiously awaiting the publication of Hart's newest novel. It is about sisters who are separated by centuries but all four are bound together by the sea.

The publisher's summary: 

2019: Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack—but Jess is nowhere to be found.

As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’s strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary.

1999: Jess is a lonely sixteen-year-old in a rural town in the middle of the continent. Diagnosed with a rare allergy to water, she has always felt different, until her young, charming art teacher takes an interest in her drawings, seeing a power and maturity in them—and in her—that no one else has.

1800: Twin sisters Mary and Eliza have been torn from their loving father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. For their entire lives, they’ve feared the ocean, as their mother tragically drowned when they were just girls. Yet as the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain, and they feel the sea beginning to call to them…

A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, The Sirens captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.

As I started reading, I was trying to figure out what the heck this book was about. When I realized that it was part magical realism, part historical fiction I understood. The language for both of these parts was magical and that threw me off. While I was figuring all of this out and not sure if I liked the book, I could not stop reading. That's a good sign that I was enjoying it. The story is so compelling that I finished the book in one sitting. The 1800s narrative was the most enjoyable with the 2019 narrative my second choice. 

The setting is the sea even though many of the events take place in Australia. There is also an eeriness associated with it that enhances the magical realism part of the novel. The plot does not tell the reader who or what was responsible for 8 Australian men who are missing. Their names are mentioned several times but there is an illusion, though, to them all abusing women at some time and their victims getting revenge. This tells us that sisterhood is the theme. Only when women get together to fight an enemy can they be successful.

This story was based on one of the author’s paternal ancestors who had actually captained a convict ship. He transported Irish prisoners, both men and women, to Australia. The author created a complex and interesting plot from this fact in her ancestry. It gives me the idea that I should start writing because I have a huge family tree with plenty of interesting ancestors.

All in all, this is a great book. I feel like I need to re-read it, though, in order to catch all of the details that I may have missed. I am going to publish this review but re-read the book in a few weeks. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

No Roast for the Weary

This coffeehouse mystery series by husband and wife writing team Cleo Coyle is my favorite cozy mystery series. In No Roast for the Weary the tables are turned on protagonist Clare Cosi and her Village Blend staff after opening a Writer's Block Lounge on the second floor of the coffeehouse.

The publisher's summary:  

When the Village Blend opens a Writer's Block Lounge, a cold case crime turns up the heat on Clare and her crew in this gripping new entry in the beloved Coffeehouse Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

As much as master roaster Clare Cosi adores coffee, the landmark shop she manages won't survive if she doesn't sell enough of it. So when the Village Blend's customer traffic grinds to a halt, she turns to her staff for creative ideas, and the Writer's Block Lounge is born.

Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the shop, is upset by this news. Years ago, a group of accomplished writers used the shop's second-floor lounge to inspire each other, but the group disbanded when something dark occurred. Though that history is shrouded in mystery, Clare presses forward...

Soon the Village Blend tables are filled with aspiring novelists, playwrights, and poets, all happy to be coaxed, cajoled, and caffeinated by her coffeehouse crew. Clare admires the stamina of these scribes, many of them toiling at night jobs—driving taxis, tending bar, ushering for Broadway—while penning projects during the day.

Then one of their fictions turns fatal when a shocking secret leads to a deadly end. Unless Clare can untangle this mystery, uncover the truth, and stop a desperate killer, she fears more of these weary writers may be marked for eternal rest. ~ Includes a knockout menu of recipes.

No Roast for the Weary is cozy mystery perfection! I was hooked from the first chapter and loved that she incorporated current events into the story. The Village Blend is suffering financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic shut-down. Customer traffic hasn’t recovered from the pandemic. In order to increase business, the coffeehouse team brainstorms and decides to reopen the Writer’s Block Lounge, a second floor lounge that the coffeehouse hosted a few decades ago. With ads on social media sites, the crowds return.

There is an incident, though, with a regular customer who begins shouting and fighting against someone who is invisible to everyone but him. The staff call him Mr. Scrib because he spends hours every day drinking coffee and writing in a notebook. Scrib tells barrista Esther that he is writing a true crime book that will upset all the politicians and cops in New York City. The mystery to be solved concerns Mr. Scrib whose real name is Jensen Van Dyne. There is a murder to solve in the current time period but the one that happened years ago in the Writer's  Block Lounge is the main mystery.

This is another fun, fast-paced contemporary mystery. I love that this story delved into a mystery that occurred decades ago in the coffeehouse. It keeps the series fresh when the authors write about both current and former murders that happened at the Village Blend.

5 out of 5 stars. 

The Versailles Formula

This is the third book in Nancy Bilyeau's 18th-century Genevieve Planché series. While it probably can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend beginning with the first book in the trilogy The Blue and then The Fugitive Colours. There is too much backstory that a reader needs to know in order to understand the current story. Please note that I received an advanced review copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on April 17, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Genevieve Sturbridge was never meant for a quiet life in the English countryside. Once an artist in the heart of London, she now spends her days in restless solitude. But when a familiar figure from her past arrives with an urgent request, she is thrust into a perilous world of spies and a formula that could shift the balance of power between France and England.

The thrill of the chase is intoxicating—the cryptic clues hidden in plain sight, the challenge of ferreting secrets from dangerous opponents, the undeniable rush of being needed again. But with every step deeper into the mystery, the danger grows. Someone is watching. Someone is hunting. And the more she uncovers, the more she wonders: Has she walked willingly into a trap?

The story started out well but as I reached Part 2, I wondered when art and pigments would enter the plot. Almost simultaneously with my thoughts, Genevieve is asked to return to France to investigate who is using the forbidden blue color that her husband created. While there, Genevieve will do a little spying for her country. 

I was disappointed with the book. It is advertised as a historical thriller but it isn't a thriller. I would categorize it as a historical mystery; a good one. A big part of my disappointment was the extremely high expectations that I held. Each of the author’s earlier eight novels were spectacular. Another blockbuster was expected. That said, it is a fairly good mystery. I would not want this installment of the series to be the end though. I believe that the series is only three books and, if so, The Versailles Formula is not the best ending. Another problem I have is that the story wasn't about the chemical formula for blue but rather the possibility that it is being misused. It took alot of pages before the identity of this mystery was given. 

Approximately one third of the book gave background information from the first two books. It was done well with equal amounts of dialogue and narrative but unless you've read those books, the level of drama from the backstory is missing. Also, Genevieve's career as an artist is not part of the plot. That's a departure from the earlier two books in the series. 

Enough with the negatives. What is positive about the book? Genevieve and Captain Howard's mission in France was fraught with plenty of twists and I was often afraid for both of them. It didn't appear that they would succeed in their quest to determine who was using the forbidden blue color. Almost daily they were accosted by enemies of England but the two were not always aware of the identity of these enemies. Part of the mission was to figure out who was who. If they could return to England with the name of the forger of blue then they were successful. Along the way these two met interesting Frenchmen who added "color" to the story. Pun intended. 

The book reads like a historical spy story. However, my impression of the series was something else. If this was a standalone novel I would rate it highly. It is part of a series, though, so I can only rate it based upon this fact. 3.7 stars out of 5 stars.

High Tea and Misdemeanors

The Indigo Teashop mysteries are one of my top three cozy mystery series. High Tea and Misdemeanors is the 29th installment of the series and it is one of the best to date. If you haven't yet read the series, you simply must. It's magnificent and has the fastest pace of all 29 books.

The publisher's summary: 

When a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.

Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed trapping a bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

I always have a good laugh at some of the rhyming two word adjectives that author Laura Childs uses; eg, a florist shop in Charleston is called Flora Dora and a sound was thump-thumpering. What I particularly noticed in this novel was that tea sommelier Drayton Conneley was described as being sixtysomething. He has been this age for 29 years! I must acknowledge, though, that if the characters aged throughout the series, none of them would still be alive and there would be no books anymore. We can't have that.

The murder occurred in the first chapter which I always appreciate because the rest of the story can be about the investigation. I noticed how well written the first chapter was compared to earlier books in the series. The story opens with the killer doing his thing. I don't believe Childs has written this chapter with a hook before. Usually we see setting descriptions and introductions to the main characters. The hook is the reason the chapter was so fast paced. 

The pace was maintained throughout the story. Theodosia didn't think about investigating, she just started to do so. While cozies require a suspension of belief, I thought it was bizarre that Theo's boyfriend, police detective Pete Riley, followed her ideas on how to investigate the murder. He did what he was told. Then again, with a long series it becomes dry reading about the amateur sleuth always scratching for leads from the police. I guess in this case the suspension of belief is appropriate.

High Tea and Misdemeanors is a wonderful entry into the Indigo Teashop series. 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Cover of the Month: March

Andrew Fielding is a freelance illustrator based in Edinburgh. He designed this book cover for Philip Brebner's Shadows of Marrakech.What I love about the cover is the bright colors but also the scene depicted. It is the interior of a souk where one can find find all types of items to buy. It  certainly gives a proper backdrop for the story.

In the book Ramzi, a disillusioned Scottish scientist, is running a riad in Marrakech. After a customer, Frenchman Paul Gallisot, is murdered in the city, Ramzi decides to play detective and investigates the death. The setting is most prominent feature of the story so this scene on the cover is most appropriate.

Andrew Fielding is highly creative. In addition to illustration he has also worked on character creation, scriptwriting and animation for a UK TV station. He studied at BBC Scotland CBeebies & Scottish Book Trust Lab in 2010.

Book of the Month: March

The Confessions of Pope Joan is by far my best book of the month. In this installment of the Vatican Secret Archives series, author Gary McAvoy marries theological arguments with historical objects and adventure. He is an expert at it. In this installment of the series McAvoy addresses married priests and women’s roles in the Church.

The story follows Father Michael Dominic, the main character, and his friend Hana Sinclair as they travel to England to see an ancient Bible.From there they are led to a diary written by Joan Anglicus. Joan is believed by some to be the only female pope in church history. Others believe that she is a myth. From the diary the two are led to an ancient gospel of Salome. 

This was an exciting novel and mystery lovers should read the series if they haven't done so yet.